‘The X Factor’ Crowns Matt Cardle Winner

The seventh season of UK talent competition The X Factor found its winner in Matt Cardle last night. The 27-year-old painter and decorator, who was mentored during the series by Dannii Minogue, beat out Rebecca Ferguson. Head below to watch Matt in his winning moment, and to hear his just-released single “When We Collide”, a renamed cover of Biffy Clyro’s “Many Of Horror.”

Matt follows Joe McElderry, the 2009 winner of The X Factor. So far the only one to emerge triumphant from the series and cross over in the U.S. is Leona Lewis, who landed the winning number of votes back in 2006. (She later topped the Hot 100 in spring 2008 with “Bleeding Love.”)

Let’s just hope Cardle finds more success in his home country than American Idol winner Lee DeWyze has in this one.

Here’s Matt’s winner’s song, “When We Collide”, which is currently the top download at the UK iTunes store.